Campaigning

Well THIS is embarrassing. I'm going to need three trips to this one district to finish it. I must be getting old.

Actually, it's pretty freakin hilly, both driveways and roads. Here's a few pictures of the upper middle class Pukalani.







I'm standing at a door - I had just knocked and was waiting for the guy to refuse to answer and I hear music...Ice Cream Man music...and it was very familiar. As you remember (?) in Kihei, we get It's a Small World After All...over and over again. But today...is that...Jingle Bells? Followed by Silent Night? Are you serious?

Yep. In Pukalani, they play the Ice Cream Man / Muzak version of Christmas Carols, followed by Mary Had A Little Lamb and Happy Birthday. At least they have a proper looking Ice Cream Truck. The dude in Kihei drives this non-descript, plain white van. It looks like he's trying to lure children to abduct them. I'm not playing.

Anyway, as an excuse to not finishing this district after day 2 - I would have finished it today, but it was 4pm and I had to drive back into town to be on the air at 5pm. So there, again.

NOT the end of an era

The Jay Superstar meeting went down last night and I did not throw a fit and quit Summer's campaign. Though I will admit, that was the scenario in my head on the drive up. I'm really convinced that communication...I mean people speaking to one another...is just not a valued thing here. People don't do it well. That's why I was bent out of shape over this guy literally being brought in without my knowledge.

So the Jayster knows his stuff. He's actually down with pretty much everything I've set up so far. But I'll give credit where it's due, he was able to hit the right tone of obnoxious to get Summer and the family to start doing the things I was asking them to do all along. Now, Summer's committed to going door-to-door 5-6 times a week (she started yesterday). Dad, who's a player in a good way, in the district, is going to start making the phone calls he agreed to.

As the meeting was pretty much breaking up, he did whisper to me, "Sorry for stepping on your toes a bit." So he knew the deal. Yeah, it was a little awkward for me, but I'm glad he came. There are a couple of ideas we're definitely going to use and he got the people I was getting frustrated with to get going. And he also was able to blow out of the water this idea I was bugged with that we shouldn't do door-to-door during the week because people wouldn't want to be bothered at home then, etc. So now we're going during the week - which is what I wanted all along.

Jay's gone and I'm sure he'll be sticking his nose in on occasion, but the truth is, after Summer wins, I'll be leaving and Jay will be in Hawaii.

So there.

This Place is Just Straight Up Nutty

Weird goings on today:

*Feeling relatively better. Body aches gone. A bit tired. I'm functional.

*I get out of school and go to do laundry. While I'm there I decide to give Nancy a call - she's blown off 2 of my calls in the last week and I'm anxious to get these fundraising dinners going for the campaign. She finally answers. She's at the airport...didn't know she was leaving. Seems that her Mom is sick so she's going to the mainland. So, I'm telling her how sorry I am and that of course, don't worry about the campaign, blah, blah, blah. Well, this followed by non-sequitors about...uh, I'm not actually sure. I couldn't tell what the hell she was talking about. Turns out that I was on speaker phone and her friend (whom I have met once) was chiming in on the conversation. It took me 5 minutes to realize that I was talking to 2 different people (as opposed to personalities). When I mentioned that I didn't realize I was talking to 2 people, the friend got pissy. Like...what...ever.

And of course, just before I hang up, Nancy drops an ILY bomb on me. Summer has no idea what I'm doing for her campaign. Like...

*So, as I mentioned before, Summer referred some other chick to me who called herself a former "professional campaigner". Well, I called her tonight. And she was in bed, sick with the flu - which I can totally sympathize with. She said that she doesn't like to complain when she's sick - then proceeded to complain about all of her ailments, including a phlegm report. So we're going to talk another time. Can't wait.

I have noticed, that just about everyone I've spoken to that has anything to do with this campaign, except Summer's boyfriend, has poor communication skills. Thank god I get to meet with Jay The Savior on Friday. Did I tell you that he's beaten 3 incumbents? Good. I wouldn't want you to forget that, because nobody else will let me.

*While I was at the Laundromat, the TV was on - as is normal for a Laundromat...god forbid any of us poor folk read or something. The news was on and they were having a special series on Hurricane preparation. Then I remembered some "fair" they're having at the mall this week on hurricane prep. This is another thing they left out of the What-you-need-to-know-when-you-move-to-Maui Handbook. I guess June is Hurricane Season here. Gosh, and I don't have a thing to wear.

OK...off I go to bed, with my big ruddy head. (Whitee, 1998)

Home Sick

Left work early. I feel like death. But I have a meeting with Jay the Campaign Guru on Friday. Oh joy. And another "former professional campaigner" wants to talk to me. What the fuck is with these people?

I'm going to bed.

New Podcast

A pretty good show this week:

Parking Lot of Love

Back in the Saddle...

...but I could have used a horse.

Today I started going door-to-door for Summer's campaign. By the way, I hit all of you up for money for the campaign, right?

So, it's a little different this time around. The houses are close together, but the terrain is a lot more difficult than campaigning in Rochester. A lot more gravelly driveways and hills. Way more dogs. And people just aren't used to door-to-door stuff. This sign waving thing is the rage.

If you missed my earlier explanation, on Maui, the preferred way of protesting/campaigning is to have signs by the side of the road, wave them, point at people like you were Issac from the Love Boat and throw the shaka.



Here's a picture of Summer sign waving, Mother's Day weekend.


It's going to be a long summer...no pun intended.

Summer's in Oahu this weekend at the State Democratic Convention. I'd rather be turning tricks at the bus station than be there...I'm just saying. But she did meet with that "beat 3 incumbents" guy. What do you know...I seem to have gotten his stamp of approval. I'm so relieved. So I guess I know what I'm doing after all.

On another note:

Thursday night, I was working at the YMCA. This woman, in her 50's, gets out of the pool and walks through the locker room to the front desk...still in her swimsuit, dripping wet. "Excuse me. I bought these goggles here last week. Could you tell me how to work them, they keep leaking."

"I...uh...Ma'am, I don't really swim. Maybe you could ask one of the lifeguards at the pool."

[Really long period of silence]

"Oh." She turned around and walked back into the locker room.

I should have told her to change the batteries.

Hooray! Hoor...aw shit...

Today I had my meeting with Mark...the school's Director. We went over my evaluation...which went fine. I was harder on myself than he was...which is new for me in a school. Then we talked about my contract for next year. With my work on my Professional Portfolio, I'll be getting a raise one year early. Hooray!

But I'll be bringing home less per paycheck... I...uh...wha...Huh?

I started working this past school year July 24th, which meant I'd be getting 23 paychecks. This year, I'll be starting along with everyone else and getting 24 paychecks. The raise in pay was not enough to cover an entire paycheck, so I'll be taking home less next school year per paycheck.

I got a raise and will be making less money. Figures.

OK, I know, not really...and in fact, in the long-run it will help because if I leave Maui as soon as school ends next year (June 9th-ish), I'll still be getting paychecks through July of 2009...which, if I can crash at Mom's for a few weeks (hint, hint), I can get an apartment pretty quickly.

But meanwhile...Christ, I may need a 3rd job!

Another "How did I get here?" Moment

Friday night I drove up to Kula to visit Nancy...well, to drop off campaign lit, really. Then I was supposed to run over to Olinda to meet with Summer.

I got to the house...and holy moly...actually, I think I may have dropped an f-bomb or two. This house was unfreakinbelievable. I've seen bigger houses, but it was absolutely gorgeous, with amazing views (it was at around 4000ft up), the usual jacuzzi stuff, but the yard was amazing, the place was decorated with cool art. I'm not describing it well, but believe me, it was incredible. The woman who owns it is letting Nancy stay there while she tries to sell it since her husband died last year.

So Nancy's explaining to me how we can easily get the $2000 contributors over to the house for dinner and we can have a bigger 100+ person party at the "guest house" which was better than anything I've ever lived in. I'm sitting there in this ridiculous house, talking about money that I'm not usually around...and I just had another one of those - How the f-did I get here? moments.

As I drove back, I started to think about that house and that life. Nancy said that the house was up for sale and that she and her brother are trying to raise the money to buy it...it's a "fire sale" for $2.2 million bucks. I figured it out...that would pay my rent in Maui for over 192 years. Then I started wondering who deserves to live like that - at least when there are so many who live in poverty, without water? I wasn't picking on anyone specifically, I just meant in general.

Then I tried to figure out just when it was I started to feel so guilty about things I've had nothing to do with creating and have no power to change. Yet.

I'm Free!

I can walk! The boot is no more. It was so weird to drive to work today without having to risk a pulled groin. I would go frolic in a field of daisies, but we don't have daisies here...and I was never much of a frolic guy even before I got hurt.

So to commemorate such a momentous occassion, I'm running next week's PE classes and we're doing softball. I won't be running, of course, but it'll feel good to stand on a field with my glove on.

There! That's my version of frolicing.

Now THIS is politics

Look...everyone who reads this blog (all 2 of you) know my political leanings. So when I throw a few insults out here, realize that I'm talking about political insiders here. Please don't take offense...

Now, I may be getting a bit paranoid here, but when I give you the quote, you'll see why.

We (the Summer Starr campaign braintrust), got word that some guy who has a lot of experience in running campaigns in Maui/Hawaii would like to talk to me. No problem. Then I get word that this dude named Lance Holter would be interested in having Summer on his cable access show.

Note: the cable access station here is watched a lot more than in most places and just before I got here was under a huge political tug of war.

Now, this Lance guy, I've actually met once, at a Democratic party function I went to as a suck up move for Summer. My experience there and the few things I've seen in the media, I take him to be the de facto leader of the left-wing of the Maui dems...the left-wing that have liberal values, but roll over every time the corporate wing of the party sabotages anything progressive.

So I contact Lance about Summer going on the show and then HE starts talking about this guy who wants to talk to me. And he mentions how the guy's beat 3 incumbents. Included in this e-mail is a thread of an e-mail conversation he's had with this guy. Check this out:

From: Jay Scharf [mailto:jaysimonscharf@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 9:42 AM
To: Lance Holter
Subject: Campaign management

Professional campaign manager (Presidential on down) in Sacramento in the 1970's. Never lost a primary and knocked off a couple of incumbents.

1979- knocked off 40 year incumbent Art Rutledge from the Hotel Worker's Union

1980's- only did two campaigns before retiring to the Big Island : for Rod Tam when he was a State Rep. and was targeted by both the Democrats and Republicans. and for "Dumb Dr." Duke Bainum when he beat incumbent Rep. Joan Hayes in the Democratic primary. (The asshole still owes me $10,000 ......)

After divorce came out of political retirement and at the last minute saved now Big Island Councilman Bob Jacobson's ass in 2002 with a no-cost telemarketing campaign.

In 04 did now Councilman Pete Hoffman's campaign when he beat 3-term incumbent Leningrad Elarinoff, did now Councilman Angel Pilago's campaign when he beat quasi-incumbent Jim Rath, and took Jacobson from 50.1% to 60% (Jacobson's wife held the seat for 2 terms before he ran-in her 3 campaigns they never got more than 51%.)

Bottom line: I doubt there is anyone else in Hawaii with a track record of beating incumbents, especially in a primary. If your candidates are serious and want to win rather than just go through the motions, they will call me. I'm planning to go to the mainland in July but would be very happy to go to Maui instead if one of you really wants to win. The sooner I know the better.

Uh, OK...so I ask Lance, what is this guy's story...is he looking to get paid? Is he just trying to help candidates he likes? The e-mail is like a hard push advertisement for his services. So I just asked Lance what the deal was. This is Lance's entire reply:

He defeated three incumbents. LH

Uh, OK...At first I was thinking that this guy's got the backing of local dems and he's looking for a gig - and that locals would push to have this guy take over Summer's campaign. And if that's the case she would have to seriously consider it as she'll need to work with them once elected. After a quick Google, it seems that he's running Bob Jacobson's re-election campaign so this probably isn't the case, but it's weird how this guy is being thrust upon us.

But again, I'll talk to the guy.

I really need to stop doing this shit.

Olbermann on Bush

[Yes, I am crossposting this]

I wish I could embed this. There's the transcript, but to get the full effect - especially at the end, check out the video.

Olbermann Tells Bush to Shut the Hell Up

Update on No Update

I could have used the blog to bitch, but figured that 1) it wouldn't do any good and 2) no one needs to read my complaints. I'm grouchy because I'm tired of this boot, I haven't worked out in a month, haven't had a day off in a month and...and...well, I'm just me.

There's really nothing new happening. No matter what's going down, the podcast seems to be doing OK. We seem to be getting more listeners. I just need to get into the mood to write more bits - they just haven't been there.

So, everything's really OK...I'm just Mr. Cranky Pants.

Random Update

I'm pretty sure it's going to be more difficult to post regular updates, but I'll do my best. I'm back in Rochester-mode...jobs & campaigning. So here's a few little things going on.

We're kind of in full swing in the campaign. I'm still having some...uh...issues. My candidate is still having problems approaching people at various venues. Church functions seems to be a big issue with her. Then there's Dad...Dad is a big cheese in the district. He owns land, is a landlord, he's a mover & shaker. And he's a great guy! I hate the term, but he's pretty liberal. But he won't make phone calls. We spent hours compiling a list of people everyone can call for support and Dad's is pretty high-quality, but he has this thing about calling for money...and it's a political thing, because both he and the wife are HUGE in the philanthropy circles...they shake people down for money for good causes all the time, and this cause is his own daughter - who he loves like a mother (excuse the pun). But because it's politics he won't make the calls. So I'm trying to be nice about his, while at the same time get through to him that it's a pretty big part of our strategy.

And I realized this week that I am STILL the only person with political experience on board and it's kind of draining because I'm doing more training than managing. And every time the incumbent does anything that incumbents do, everyone freaks out and even though I keep telling them what to expect, they still freak out.

Then I have my interns, who are 15-year-old girls, who I have to take 30 minute car rides with and listen to stories of who likes who, fashion and other vacuous things that give me an ice cream headache. But some of them are actually doing a pretty good job.

I'm making it sound like chaos for comedic effect, but I'm actually enjoying this. We're doing good work, though we're still not where I want us to be. If I can get us over a couple of hurdles, we're going to kick this guy's ass. Unfortunately, as it is in politics:

Money would help. (hint, hint)

********************************************************

Work at the YMCA is going OK...everyone seems to like me there, which is cool. I can't wait to get this stupid boot off so I can start using their facilities. I know, I can't go full gear at the start, but as of right now, ANYTHING is better than what I'm doing. And I'm getting close to pulling a groin muscle from driving...too much information?

*********************************************************

That's pretty much it for now. School is the same. The kids are nuts, because it's near the end of the school year. We're interviewing new teachers as we're adding another grade next year. I'll only be responsible for Social Studies then. But it's going to be insane as we'll have 24 more kids in the same space. I still don't know how we're working this. "No worries" is a big saying here and the Kihei Charter School takes that to heart. So planning isn't at a premium because whatever happens it's "no worries". So, I'm still going to be able to teach, pretty much, whatever I want, but it's going to be amidst chaos. Stay tuned.

Teacher Appreciation Day

That was today. I know, I didn't know there was one, either. I mean there's a day for everything else so it's not that much of a surprise, but I didn't know today was it. And just like what went down with kids & parents last Christmas, I got another surprise. A bunch of parents chipped in and got each of the teachers gift certificates for a restaurant. And with the card was a note from individual parents thanking each of us individually. It was quite interesting. Oh, and cool! But really unexpected.

One parent / guardian who didn't write was my global warming skeptic. He used to really like us, I don't think that's the case any more. With me, it's for indoctrinating his granddaughter (though I seem to be failing at it as she's still a nutjob), he doesn't like Peggy because she takes to long to get her grades online. It's a squirrely family.

Non-school related: Summer had to go to some awards thingy - just about everyone in her family was getting some kind of award from a community group. So drove up to Kula for their Community Association meeting...wearing my Summer Starr t-shirt. That goofy chick was there. (see old post) She actually helped a lot. Made some contacts, handed out lit. People are really glad to see her running.

I'm home, I'm tired and I'm going to bed.

Politics...

There's going to a few references here that'll only be understood by the fellow politican-type folks who read this, but bare with me...

The Summer Star campaign is in full swing. Summer's going to events almost every night and we start door-to-door work this weekend. I sent e-mails to a couple hundred people asking for money - many of you who read this got one. Please think about giving a few bucks. Getting Summer in office really is a little thing you can do to make the world better. No, it's not going to change everything in one swoop, but it's a brick in the wall. Think of it as the Flag Day gift you usually send me ( ! ).

So, I'm trying to navigate the Hawaiian political scene. The weird stuff isn't where you'd think. The usual stuff is not a surprise...incumbents in bed with business. I even heard an unsubstantiated rumor (though it's a pretty good source) that our opponent goes to Vegas, runs up a buttload of gambling debts and "someone" pays it off with cash in a brown paper bag. If I told you where I got my info from I'd have to kill you.

No, the craziness is from the bureaucratic arm of the government. It seems that the voter reg lists are compiled by the State Government, not the county. And it's a clusterfuck. My own candidate and her entire family are not on the voter list and they're natives and have been at the same address since 1972. Of course each office blames a different office...it really is a third world country here.

The district maps are missing boundaries...seriously. And for some reason, there are actually polling places for districts located outside of the districts they represent. And there's an entire precinct I can't locate...it's not on any map I can find.

But on a more positive note...our machine is starting to roll. Interns, canvassing, alliances, endorsements, media...I have to admit, I do love this stuff...it's like my own Dungeons & Dragons. Only I don't have to wear a cape. Even though I wish I could.

Creepy...But Sensitive

Not too much happening. I'm pretty exhausted, getting ready for bed. Was on at Mana'o last night and this chick from Tanzania kept calling for requests. She seemed to take it as a challenge to see if I could dig up what she wanted. I had my laptop with Limewire so it wasn't too tough...Grace Jones, Marianne Faithful, Keith Jarrett, Spencer Davis...then she busted out some French singer I absolutely could not find...not even on Google, Myspace or Amazon. So she's going to get the info on it and send it to me. It was a nice distraction.

So after 4 hours of sleep I had to work at the Y. Nothing major. Everything's cool there, but I'm still making the occasional paperwork error...it's pretty much a bureaucratic place. A lot of "codes" for activities and stuff like that. The software they use is 12 years old and not very intuitive. Once in a while I register someone's grandmother for swim lessons or Mom gets registered for summer camp. Whatever...it would probably do them good. And while I realize this is now cliche, I think all the young gay guys work &/or are members at the Y. None dress like cowboys or motorcycle cops, though.

Got the new keyboard on the laptop. That's cool.

Uhhhhh...Summer got the endorsement of the 21st Century Democrats. We can't publicize it just yet.

Tomorrow, I'm going to deal with the bastards at T-Mobile, live on the podcast. Hopefully it'll be interesting.

OK...here's a link that is creepy, yet sensitive. Sensitive as in: ladies, I feel your pain. Creepy as in...well, check it out.

Kellye Gray

I'm putting this up here to see if I will be able to use it on my show on Mana'o tomorrow. Enjoy the music either way.

A Whole Buncha Crazy

I actually have a minute to sit and type so I thought I'd give an update of what's gone down and what will go down.

Yesterday, I was sending pictures by phone to a select bunch of you as I took kids to look for turtles and the surf was pretty high....it was a cool sight so I thought I'd show off a bit. Well, karma will sure come along and bite you on the ass pretty quick. Five minutes later some of my kids were swept away by an unexpected high swell. One of my girls was literally airborne. It was not cool and it was my fault. The kids shouldn't have been where they were. The other teachers said that I couldn't have known because it was my first time there, but I wasn't having it...if I could take a bunch of screwballs from Hillside to Cooperstown or even to the mall, I can take these spazzes to a beach. And to make it worse, I was actually taking a picture of them at the time...jeez:

So I took the other half today and got a chance to see a turtle pretty upclose. The kids have been studying them all year and most of the time, when they do, I'm in the classroom while they're out in the field. So I haven't had much of a chance to catch them. But from the kids I've heard about Fibropapiloma, which is this disease that's crushing the world's turtle population - and of course it's caused by pollution. Well, the turtle I saw today had this HUGE tumor attached to the side of its head. It was Fibro. Man, that really pissed me off. You hear about this stuff, but when you really see it...the impact. It's just plain fucked.

In the afternoon, I had a 40 minute session with a bunch of kids in the computer lab doing research for the project they're doing for me (which you can check out at atias.org). My Bill O'Reilyette started throwing a little fit because - as we now know - global warming is a hoax. It's not really cute any more and I'd like her and her bat-shit crazy grandfather to just go away.

Did you know that today was Holocaust Rememberance Day? Yep. And the parent who freaked over my Amnesty International activity about the children of Palestine set us up with a guest speaker - Dora Heller - who is a survivor of a concentration camp. So she came at the end of the day. It was pretty cool...in a sad way.

Now I'm at the Y...not a bad night, except for the woman who called telling me that she called 911 and "the bastard hung up on me and I still need help."

"Um, Mam. This is the YMCA."

"Blah, blah, blah"

Since I've been working here, I keep hearing: that doesn't usually happen here. Yeah, well there's a new sheriff in town so get ready for the freaks to come out.

This weekend's going to be a bit nuts. Friday, there's school, followed by a campaign meeting where I have to pick up interns and drive to Olinda for a campaign meeting. I have to gently kick a little ass to get people in gear so I can finally get rid of this one albatross I have from the Oahu Dems who got Summer to run in the first place. Then I have to bring the kids back to Kihei and get to Wailuku to be on Mana'o from 7-midnight. Back to Kihei...sleep and back to Wailuku to be at the Y at 6:45 Saturday morning. Right after that I have to choose between going to the mall to catch the tail end of my students performing some nutty-ass May Day is Lei Day thing or going to the Maui County Democratic Convention. I lose either way. Laundry or else I'm going to school naked &/or stinky next week. Sunday is more Y and podcast.

Two more weeks until I get rid of this freakin boot.